- Joined
- Jul 3, 1997
- Messages
- 66,715
- Real Name
- Ronald Epstein
What can I say? I love 3D! From the moment I began watching 3D content in my home I quickly discovered that I needed more content. I suspect that those of you just purchasing your first 3D hardware will acquire the same ferocious appetite. That's why I became the HTF 3D ADDICT. I personally love images that pop off the screen and come inches away from your face without becoming overly gimmicky. However, I certainly appreciate the nature documentaries that offer beautiful depth and separation. These are not necessarily reviews of the film themselves. I am not going to concentrate on story or supplements -- you can find the 2D reviews elsewhere on this forum. My job is to let you know exactly what kind of 3D experience to expect from the titles that are being released. As I will be receiving a handful of new product from the studios expect to see more title coverage.
MEET THE ROBINSONS
Studio: Walt Disney
Product Release: November 8, 2011
Ratio: 1.85:1
Audio: 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
Running Time: 95 Minutes
Rating: G
ON A SCALE 0-5
Overall 3D Presentation Rating: 5
3D Separation: 5
3D In Yo' Face Factor: 4
Keep Moving Forward
Most of you are about to realize what a very special time
this is for 3D enthusiasts. Up until recently, studios have
been rather sporadic in releasing quality 3D films to store
shelves. However, it took one studio's firm commitment to
releasing quality content to a starving market to really turn
things around. That studio, of course, is none other than
Walt Disney.
Over the next two weeks Walt Disney will be releasing some of
the best 3D titles that I have had the pleasure of watching including
the Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3 and Bolt. These films are
exceptional demo-worthy material for your newly-invested display
and represent the very best of what this format has to offer to home
audiences. Today, I am going to add one more title to that list:
Meet The Robinsons.
12 year old orphan boy, Lewis (Daniel Hansen), a budding
genius in science and technology, is frustrated over not being
adopted or being accepted for who he is. Lewis spends his
days working on a memory device, much to the disgruntlement
of his brooding roommate, "Goob" (Matthew Josten).
Things suddenly turn upside down upon meeting a young teenager
named Wilbur Robinson (Wesley Singerman), who has traveled
from the future to protect Lewis from an evil guy wearing a bowler hat
(Stephen J Anderson). At first, Lewis doesn't believe Wilbur's story,
that is, until they embark on hovercraft ride into the future. It is in this
forthcoming timeline that he meets The Robinsons, perhaps the
zaniest cast of madcap characters ever assembled in a Disney film
all at once. With Bowler Hat Guy in hot pursuit, Lewis now must
repair an alteration in the space-time continuum and save his newly
found family from being perished forever.
Meet The Robinsons was one of the last computer animated films
produced by Walt Disney Studios prior to its acquisition of Pixar. Made
entirely within the digital 3D format, Disney animators have once again
breathed life into their animated characters providing their audience with
an appealing, heartwarming story filled with a plethora of pop cultural
references and spoofs of movies and television that will keep everyone
in the family smiling.
Meet The Robinsons looks spectacular on 3D Blu-ray. It's bright,
ultra-colorful and has a wonderful sheen that lends to the widening
of eyes upon taking it all in. Really, I cannot overemphasize enough
how brilliant a transfer this is. I rarely have the opportunity to witness
images so stunningly beautiful, enhanced in 3D, where everything
seems so life-like. Black levels are excellent. This is about as
crystal-clear a transfer can get. Just wait until you watch the film's
opening sepia-toned flashback. You'll marvel at its clarity, Not a blemish
nor artifact to be found anywhere. In short, this is demo-worthy material.
The inclusion of 3D makes this film even more of an eye-popping
experience for the viewer. There is a heightened sense of virtual
spacing created by the separation and sizing of foreground and
background objects. The filmmakers take ample opportunities to
throw objects out towards the audience, though unfortunately, the
effect is not as extended as I would have hoped. Still, there is no
cause to be unhappy here. The film still manages to dazzle the
viewer with some really cool 3D effects that include flying sparks,
spraying water, spouting lava, spewing peanut butter and kicked-up
dirt. Once in a while we get treated to objects that project themselves
outward such as the wing of a hovercraft, the head of a robot or the
chin, fingers and shoes of the Bowler Hat Guy.
There is a minor problem with ghosting whose severity will probably
differ with each display. It's not a major concern, mind you, but I
did notice a lot of double-imaging that traced characters in many of
the darker scenes. The first time we see Doris, the bowler cap
hurtling in the air, or when fingers point themselves outwards, there
is a slight amount of crosstalk present.
The film's 5.1 DTS-MA track is exceptionally engaging. Audio is
quite hefty, well pronounced, and the rears provide enough effect
usage (including Bowler Hat Guy's menacing laugher) that the listening
environment remains perfectly balanced and well-rounded. There
is a generous amount of LFE activity that underlines the movement
of the hovercraft or the arrival of a stomping Tyrannosaurus.
Meet The Robinsons arrives as a 3-Disc Blu-ray combo package
(Blu-ray 3D+Blu-ray+DVD) in lenticular cardboard casing. Bonus
features include audio commentary, deleted scenes, Inventing The
Robinsons featurette, games and music videos.
CONCLUSION
It was just this past week that I was touting the upcoming 3D
release of Toy Story 3 to be one of the best Blu-ray offerings of
the year. Now I am wondering if I spoke too soon. Meet The
Robinsons is equally as impressive, if not better. It stands
as the perfect example of why people should be rushing out to
upgrade their equipment for this new technology. If you don't
own a 3D display, you just can't savor presentations as enjoyable
as this one. Don't you feel left out?
Images are for illustrative purpose only not representative of the picture quality of this disc.
Equipment
LG 60PX950 THX Certified 3D display
Oppo BDP-93 3D Blu-ray Player
Denon 3311CI Receiver
Atlantic Technology H-PAS AT-1 fronts, 4400 center; 4200 rear speakers
SV Sound Subwoofer
